Chapter Text
Watching her daughter skip across the playground, arm in arm with her best friend, Serena Campbell struggled to fight back the tears. Her daughter didn't have a care in the world- she didn't understand any of what was going on- Ellie was such a bright and happy child. She had such an infectious personality that you couldn't help but fall in love with.
Well almost everyone. Her mother's own partner refused to acknowledge her existence half the time. Serena had been with Robbie for three years and she'd regretted it almost as soon as they'd become engaged. Slipping an engagement ring on her finger should have felt wonderful, but it didn't, it felt like handcuffs.
When Elinor's dad had died, Serena had struggled both financially and emotionally. She'd lost her husband and her daughter had lost her father. She'd gone from grieving for him to hating him, she found out he had been having an affair for the last two years of his life, with a woman named Liberty. Broken and exhausted, Serena had been at a low point when she'd met Robbie, promising her security and a stable future.
A successful property developer, he had done just that. She'd thought only of doing what she had to.for her daughter. She didn't love Robbie. Getting engaged had been a mistake, Serena knew it, she just didn't have anywhere else to go.
As she watched Elinor and Charlotte approach the car, Serena wiped her eyes. She wouldn't let her little girl see her cry.
'Hi Mum' Elinor hugged her mum tight, her plait brushing Serena's shoulder. Serena hugged her back for a minute before she released her.
'Hi Charlotte, how are you?'
'I'm okay thankyou Serena. Natalie is on her way to pick me up'
'No Mum?'
'No, she's working again.'
'That is a shame. I would love to meet her one day. Normally I would offer to wait with you, but Elinor and I have somewhere we need to be'
'That's okay. I will be okay on my own'
Elinor hugged Charlotte goodbye and got into he car beside her Mum. She pulled a goofy face at her best friend, as Serena put the car into gear and drove off towards their appointment.
*********************
'Thank you for coming in to see me so quickly Miss Campbell. As I explained, we have had the results back from the sample of bone marrow that we took a fortnight ago'
'And?'
'I am sorry to say that it isn't good news. Elinor has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia'
'My baby had cancer? Are you sure?'
'Unfortunately yes. I wish it was better news'
'Is she going to die?'
'It would be impossible for me to say. 98% of children with Elinor's type of leukaemia go into remission within weeks of receiving treatment and 90% of those children can be cured. There is a chance of relapse but that is considerably lower at 25%.'
'So, she could make a full recovery?'
'That is a possibility Miss Campbell yes'
'So, what happens now?'
'Elinor will need a course of chemotherapy known as remission induction. The aim of this is to kill most of the lukaemic cells off which allows the normal blood cells to be produced again. Depending on how quickly Elinor responds, the chemotherapy can go for upto eight weeks'
'And then what?'
'Then we move onto the consolidation phase, but lets not worry about that for now. Our priority is to get Elinor booked in for chemotherapy as soon as possible. Could you come with me? There is someone I'd like you to meet.'
In a daze, Serena followed Mr Levy down the corridor and onto the paediatric ward. Elinor was happily playing with the nice Nurse Fletcher, completely oblivious that she was about to fight for her life.
Mr Levy knocked on the door and then held it open for Serena. She took note of a blonde woman sat behind a desk.
'Miss Campbell, this is Ms Bernie Wolfe. She will be handling Elinor's care from now on'
'Hello' Bernie extended her hand, which Serena shook.
'Hi. Are you the person who's going to make my little girl well again?'
'I am going to try my best Miss Campbell, I promise'